Oven-heat regulator



Sept 8, 1925. 1 1,553,142.

w. E. CLAUS ET AL- OVEN HEAT REGULATOR Filed Oct. 27" 1924 2 ShQQtS-Sheet '1 I N V EN TORS' A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 8, 1925,

w. E. CLAUS ET AL OVEN HEAT REGULATOR I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2'7, 1924 I I l INVENTORS 1 ceam M 6 a,

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v ATTORNEYS,

; Patented Sept, 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

wan'rnn II. onus mm mm. L'. cues, or mwaonnnwrsconsrn. I

Application filed October 27, 182 jet-ill No. 746,008.

To all whom it may aom'ern:

Be it known that we, WALTER E. CLAUS and EMIL L. CLAUs, citizens of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of This invention relates to improvements in thermostatic appliances of the type particularly useful for the purpose of regulating the flow of fuel to the oven of a stove such oven.

It is the primary ob ect of this invention to improve upon existing devices of this nature by roviding a novel and simpllfied construction, more compact than an heretofore known for this purpose, an more readily attachableto a gas oven than any other device with which we are familiar. The present widespread practice of finishin gas stoves and their ovens in baked ename has made more desirable than ever before the production of an oven regulator which can be attached to the gas stove with a minimum of modification thereof. The enameled surface is extremely hard to penetrate and also is very apt to be seriously damaged by tools employedin cutting an opening therethrough. In specifying the objects of this invention, therefore, we have in mind the need for a device which can be attached to a and thereby controlling the temperature of standard gas range with very little, if any,

modification thereof.

It is obviously desirable to minimlze as far as possible the labor incident to the mounting of an oven regulator upon a stove of standard construction. It is, therefore, one of the objects of this invention to provide a novel construction of regulator and so to apply the regulator to the stove that it will require connection with the stove at but a sin 1e point and will receive adequate support f om the stove at other points without actually being connected therewith.

In referring above to the simplification of construction which has been accomplished in our improved oven regulator, we have in mind the accomplishment of a simplification of structure and a resulting economy in manufacture while at the same time preserving and improving, through the novel application of. the device to the oven, the accuracy, effectiveness, and durability of the mechanism. It is our purpose to provide a regulator construction in which no links rotati shafts, or pivotal connections need be emp oyed between the thermo-sensitive device and the valve controlled thereb the connection between these parts being irect. We regard the provision of a direct connection between the thermo sensitive member and the valve, whilepreserving the desired locationof the valve at the end of the stringer pipe of the stove, as being one of the very important features of this invention.

Further objects'of the invention are to facilitate the assembly of the device and to make an incorrect assembly impossible; to ensure the accurate operation of the device under all circumstances by leaving free for expansive movement the parts within the oven and by providing for the effect upon the valve of expansive movement of these parts; to protect the valve from the heat towhich'thethermostat is subject; to ensure the free movement of the valve actuating parts Without gas leakage and without the possibility of corroding; and generally to render the appliance and its connections compact and simple and to reduce to a minimum the amount of piping required for the installation of the clev1ce, thereby not only economizing in space, materials and time and improving the appearance of the stove, but also maintaining the efficiency of the burner at all times by keeping to a minimum the resistance to gas movement between the valve and theburner. I

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of theportion of a gas range to which a thermo' static oven regulator is applied in accordance with-this invention. a

Figure 2 is a detail view in section of a bearing support provided at the oven frame for a portion of the thermostatic appliance;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view partially in axial section, showing the interior of the valve casing and related parts of the thermostatic appliance.

Figure 4 is a view on a reduced scale illustrating diagrammatically in lan the application of this device to a stan ard cabinet gas range.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

I 'We have illustrated our improved device applied in a novel manner to the oven of a cabinet gas range." In Figure 1 the cooking top of the gas range is indicated at 10.- Across the front of the cooklng device extends the usual stringer pipe ll which is provided with gas cocks 12 in the usual manner for controlling the supply of fuel to the burners of the cooking top.

The oven is indicated in its entirety by reference character 15. The oven door is omitted from the drawing in order that the application of the thermostatic device may be illustrated more clearly than would otherwise be possible. 16 represents the oven wall or, more particularly, the liner which may be regarded for the purposes of this application as comprising a part of the wall. This wall is connected with a door frame 17 ordinarily made of cast iron, the frame and -wall being frequently coated with baked enamel. L

As we have pointed out 1n a companion application, Serial No. 439,470, filed J anuary 24, 1921, the most desirable place for Y the thermostatically controlled valve device is in direct connection with stringer pipe 11. This position of the valve and manually adjustable mechanism in general is convenient in that it minimizes the piping requisite for the installation of the device; it becomes unnecessary for the operator to reach across any gas burners in such proximity thereto that the operators clothing might be burned; the device is out of the way and neither interferes with the use of the'cooking top nor increases the overall dimensions of the range; the valve and manually adjustable parts are subject only to atmospheric temperatures and are removed from the heat of theoven; and the gas or other fuel may be delivered directly from the valve to the oven manifold pipe with which the standard range is equipped, thereby preserving the natural velocity of the gas which is essential to the eflicient operation of the burners at low oven temperatures.

t In thepresent device the manifold leading to the oven isrepresented at 18 but the gas cock which normally delivers fuel from stringer pipe 11 to the mixing chamber 19 of the manifold has been removed and the opening in stringer pipe 11 has been closed by a plug 20. The gas cock 21 and the valve casing 22 are applied to the end of the stringer pipe to become, 'in effect, a con- 1,eas,14a

member and the valve within casing 22. This is desirable not only to avoid the expense of'conneeting the sensitive member and the Valve through links, bell cranks, and the like, but also for the reason that wherever there is any possibility for wear there is a resulting inaccuracy in the operation of the device. We prefer, therefore, to

. have a direct connection between the thermothe preferred construction of casing 22 includes the provision of an inlet chamber 25 upon either side of which are the tapped inlet ports 26, one of which receives the gas cook 21 and the other of which is closed by a plug 27. The provision of two such ports upon opposite sides of the valve casing 22 permits the ready installation of the device upon right and left hand ovens. The outlet chamber 29' and the valve casing is in valve-controlled communication withv inlet chamber 25 through the port 28. The

outlet chamber communicates with outlet ports 29 which likewise open to the left and to the right. With one of these ports the return pipe 23 is connected and the other is close by a plug 30. A by-pass duct 31. is controlled by screw 32 protected and concealed by a cap 33. The screw 32 is set to permit the passage through said duct at all times of the minimum quantity of gas required to maintain the oven burners in operation. Thus, whenever'the cook 21 is open, the oven is assured of sufficient gas to support combustion.

A similar duct at 34 is controlled by a needle valve 35 housed by a cap 36. This duct communicates through pipe 37 with a pilot light adjacent the oven burner 24.

The upper end of the valve casing is closed by a web 38 carrying integrally a threaded sleeve 39. The bearing member 40 is threaded within this sleeve to comprise in effect, a part of the valve casing and is provided with an extension 41 projecting axially of the valve casing almost to the port 28. The bearing member is shouldered at 42 to abut the outer end of sleeve 39, whereby to make a close fit therewith.

Bearing member 40 is externally threaded at 45, and a thermostat support or tube 46 is provided with similar threads which are opposite in direction. In other words, if the threads at 45 are right hand threads, those at 47 on tube 46 are left hand threads. The sleeve 48 is provided internally with left and right hand threads complementary respectively to those on sleeve 46 and bearzed to adilust the tube 46 axially with reference to t e casing.

To facilitate such'adjustment a knurled grip 49 is mounted on s rel 50 which may be made up, as indicated, of two concentric and closely telescoped lengths of tubing. It is connected through the grip to sleeve 48 by means of a set screw 51. T e barrel may conveniently be calibrated, as indicated in Figure 1, for the purpose of indicating its various significant positions of rotation. The reasons for the construction herein described will be explained in detail hereinafter.

The entire unitarily assembled appliance,

including valve casing 22, barrel 50 and tube 46, is disposed at an angle, as is best shown in Figure 1, and the tube 46 is extended tion.

" tated. In the ordinary installation the t u-.

axially at said angle through the oven frame 17, an aperture bein made therein at 52 for the purpose. A fitting 53 applied to the frame provides a sliding hearing at 54 for the tube 46, which is thereby left free for expansion and contraction from its point of adjustably fixed connection with the valve casing.

Tube 46 comprises a support for the ther-' mostat (any thermo-sensitive device) which 0 erates the valve within casing 22. For t is purpose it extends at an angle to a point in the upper part of the oven, this eing the proper location for the thermostat. It is disposed in parallelism with the oven wall 16 and is of necessity very closely adjacent thereto due to the location of aperture 52 in the oven frame at one side of the door opening. At its upper end the tubular support 46 carries a bracket 55 which includes diametrically opposite arms into which are received the screws or posts 56, which are preferably of spool-like construc- From these spools is supported the thermo-sensitive device which, in the present case, comprises a bi-metallic strip which may be a composite of any two metals, such as brass and steel, having unequal co-efiicients of expansion and secured together in intimate contact. As is well known, the application of heat to a device of this charac ter causes it to flex or become bowed tovward the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

It is particularly to be noted with reference to the present device that the proximity of the arms of bracket 55 to the oven wall 16 is such that the same arms will con-' tact with the wall to limit the extentv to which the tubular support 46 can be robular support 46 is practically confined against any rotation.

eeve 48, and a bar-- 1 Within the tubular support 46 is a rod 62 which is preferably made of the same material as the tube in order to have a like co-efiicient of expansion. This rod is received within a bore63 of bearing member 40 and is thereby loosely guided with a reasonable degree of accuracy for axial move; ment. The bore 63 terminates adjacent shoulder 42 of the bearing member, and fromthat point to the end of the extension 41 of such member there is an extremely small bore or hearing opening 64 within which pin 65, preferably constr 'ucted of phosphorsbronze, is closely fitted. It. will e noted that the pin normally projects, in the closed position .of the valve, for some little distance-into bore 63, whereby the rod 62 is permitted a considerable expansible movement. Nevertheless the pin is supported practically throughout its length in bearing member 40. This construction enables the use of a smaller diameter of pin than could transmit the desired force WlthOHfi such support. Also the length of the bearing is such as to prevent leakage.

The pin 65 is received within an axial socket 67 in the valve70. Thus, the valve, which is normally resiliently and yieldably maintained in a closed position by the spring 71 supported in pl'ug 72, may be forced open against the compression of said spring, through the axial reci rocation of the pin 65, as induced by the exing of the thermo-sensitive unit 60 toward its dotted line position.

F It will be noted that the entire device is not only unitary and compact in its construction but it is connected solely with the end of the stringer pipe. It receives support from chamber 19, and at two points from the frame of the oven, but with reference to all of such points it is unsecured and free to move when expanding or contracting. The rod 62 and the tubular support 46 are preferably made of like materials and, since they are subject to the same thermal conditions interior-1y and exteriorly of the oven, will expand and contract equally at all times. Thus, the expansion or contraction of either the rod .or the support is counteracted by a corresponding movement of theother and no effect is produced on the valve except through the movement of the thermo-sensitive member 60. It may be added that in order to ensure that the tube and rod will be subject to like conditions of temperature a very small ap erture is provided in the tube 46 at 74, exteriorly of the oven; The heated air expanding within the oven will seek egress through the tube 46, as well as through any other aperture in the oven, and will find its way out of the hole 74. Thereby the sub jection of rod 62 and tube 46 to like temperatures is assured.

' the inch.

then it will be necessary to take care of these, conditions by making changes in the call-- bration of barrel 50. It may even be necessary to place the indexing marks of the barrel at difi'erin degrees of circumferential separation. 11 the device as illustrated the expansion of the rod and tube has been found to take place uniformly and under like conditions so that the calibration of barrel 50 may be circumferentiallyuniform.

This is of great advantage from a. manufacturing standpoint for. obvious reasons.

It will be understood that the rotary adjustment of barrel 50 moves the tubular support 46 axially with reference to the valve casing and thereby adjusts bodily the thermo-sensitive member 60 closer or farther from the valve which such member controls. The spring 71 is of sufficient stren th to maintain the valve 70 in its closed osition until such valve is opened by the uckling or fiexion of thermo-sensitive member 60 which is transmitted to the valve, as above indicated, through rod 62 and pin which are preferably of constant length as compared with the support. For a given degree of fiexion of member 60, therefore, the degree of opening of valve 70 will depend upon the distance between member and the valve. P

It is desirable so to determine the range of movement of tube 46 with reference to a single turn of the barrel 50 and with reference to the degee of-flexion which occurs in member 60 within the normal range of oven temperatures that the entire range of such temperatures will be covered by .a series of uniformly spaced calibrations extending completely around the barrel 50. In the present device it has been found expedient to calibrate the barrel to represent temperatures of from 250 F. to 550 F., and in order to produce corresponding movement of the support or tube 46 it has become necessary to employ threads equivalent to six turns to the inch; It will be understood that these figures are given for illustration only. To obtain six turns to the inch upon a single member would require the use of a double thread. Such a construction would have the disadvantage that the device might be incorrectl assembled after having been properly cali rated at the factory.

To overcome the ossibility of such an occurrence we provide the right and left hand threads 45 and 47, respectively. 'Each of these threads is a single thread and eachhas a pitch equivalent to twelve turns to When the barrel is rotated the combined :ifect of the two threads is equivalent to the effect of a. double thread having rotation of barrel 50. At the same time, it

becomes impossible to assemble the device incorrectly, since there is but one position in which the single thread at each end of the barrel will mesh respectively with either of threads 45 or 47. To facilitate assembly, portions of the ends of sleeve 48 may be left unthreaded and counter-bored as illustrated to guide the tube and easing members receivable therein.

The above feature is of particular im-. portance because of the unitary construction of this device, and the fact that in order to incorporate it. conveniently in the desired position on a gas range it is desirable to take it apart by unscrewing the barrel 50. It will be obvious that when the barrel is unscrewed the gas cock 21 and the valve casing 22 may, if desired, b'e unitarily rotated into threaded engagement with the end of the stringer pipe. Tube 46 may be inserted bodily from the interior of the oven downwardly through the fitting 53, and a fewturns of the barrel 50 will unlte tube 46 adjustably through the valve casing in operative relation thereto.

It will be noted that the barrel 50, to gether with the knurled grip 49 are adustably connected with threaded sleeve 48 by means of a set screw 51 or other equivalent fastening. This permits of both axial and rotative adjustments between the parts.

The axial adjustment is preferably such that.v barrel 5() will contact with the valve casing to limit the screw-fed axial movement of the barrel in one direction of r0- tation thereof. The adjustment is such that if a right hand thread is employed at 45 the barrel will contact with the casing at apoint representing the highest oven temperature which the appliance is adapted to control.

A collar 75 may be applied to the tubular support 46 in a position to contact with fitting 53 at the other desired extremity of movement of the parts. In other words, the collar 7 5 abutting fittin 53 on the one hand and the barrel 5O abutting casing 22 onthe other hand define limits of movement of the parts which correspond to one complete 360 degree rotation of barrel 50. In assembling the device the barrel 50 will have been adjusted at the factory and consequently versely for 360 degrees and will secure the consistent with the strength requisite to opcollar 75 on tube 46 in contact with fitting 53. ,7

The rotative adjustment of the barrel, on the sleeve 48 will likewise ordinarily be taken care of at the factory. The adjustment at this point ensures that the thermosensitive member 60 will control the valve 70 in such a manner as to produce in the oven the temperatures indicated in the graduations on barrel 5(). If at any time it is diseoveredthat the temperatures are not being accurately indicated by the graduations, the device may very readily be recalibrated by loosening set screw 51 and set ting the barrel in such a position that the actual temperature in the oven is accurately represented by the graduation on the barrel. When set screw 51 is made fast the sleeve 48 rotates asa part of the barrel. The fact that rod 62 and tubular support 46 have like co-efiicients of expansion and are subject to like conditions of temperature, makes possible the use of uniform calibrations on the barrel 50 and ensures that regardless of the degree to which the adjustment is necessary the equally spaced calibrations will always "represent correspondingly equal changes in oven temperatures.

It is particularly to be noted that the valve 70 is thoroughly protected from oven temperatures. In devices where the valves are located in the oveh or so closely adjacent to the oven as to bewithin the thermal influence thereof, clearance is to be provided for the expansion of the valve and the valve actuating parts. Where such clearance is necessary a material quantity of gas is apt to escape from the control valve. Furthermore, corrosion frequently occurs and makes the device inaccurate.

In the present device the valve is not only located at a distance from the oven but it is also protected in large measure from heat conduction by the provision of joints in the actuating connections. It is well known that any plane of cleavage interferes seriously with the conductivity of a metal. The fact that rod 62 is separate from pin 65, and the fact that there are many joints between tube 46 and the valve casing, make it impossible for any deterimental temperatures to be communicated by conduction to the valve or to the valve seat.

It will be noted further than the pin 65 is of extremely small diameter and has'a very close fit in the bearing member 40. Such a close fit is possible for the reason that no corrosion occurs in an appliance of the type disclosed herein. The small size of pin 65' and the close fit of the bearing member with reference to said pin reduce to a minimum the possibility of gas leakage.

.The pinis made of strong material and is made as Small in diameter as ispossible crate the valve. Thus, the circumferential area of the pin is negligible, and the clearancebetween the pin and its bearing is also negligible. The result is that under the low pressures to which devices of this character are subject there is no packing needed and no perceptible quantity of gas escapes.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character. described and adapted for application to a gas range having an oven and a main or stringer pipe outside thereof, the combination with a ported valve casing adapted for connection with the stringer pipe to receive support therefrom, a valve in said casing, a thermostat adapted to be disposed within the oven and a support for said thermostat extending from said casing to the oven and carryingsaid thermostat free for bodily movement withlnthe oven, and actuating connections extending substantially axially of said valve between said thermostat portion and said casing and in operative relation to said valve.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a stove having an oven, a stringer pipe, an oven burner and a manifold leading to said burner from a point laterally adjacent said stringer pipe; of a ported valve casing in communicatlon with said stringer pipe and supported therefrom in a position offset from said manifold along the str'inger'pipe, a valve within the caslng, a short return pipe ail'ording' direct communlcation between the casing and the manifold in the normal position of the latter, a thermostat having a heat sensitive portion within the oven, and actuatin connections for said valve extending su Jstantially co-axially with said valve between said valve and said thermostat portion.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a cabinet gas range including a plurality of burners, a stringer pipe extending across said range in front j'of' said burner, an oven above one of said burners and providedwith a door and a side wall adj acent the door, and a manifold leading to said last mentioned burner from a point adjacent said stringer pipe; of a valve casing supported from said stringer pipe and having an inlet port in communication with said stringer pipe and having anoutlet port in communication with said manifold; a valve within said casing, a thermostat in an upper portion of said oven, and motion transmitting mechanism operatively extending between said thermostat and said valve and entering said oven between said door and said wall and in substantially a direct line between said casing and said thermostat at an upwardly inclined angle.

4. The combination with the'stringer pipe of a gas stove and a nearby even having a single: aperture in its frame, of a valved casing supported from the stringer plpe, a thermostat Within said oven, a sup ort for said thermostat connected with sai casin and' loosely supported from said frame and extending therethrough, and valve actuatin connections operatively extending along said support and through said aperture between said thermostat and said casing,

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a gas stove having a stringer pipe, an oven provided with a door frame having an aperture there1n, and a manifold leading beneath said oven; of a valve casing in communication with said stringer pipe and said manifold and supported from said strin er pipe in a position directly in front of the apertured portion of'said frame, a valve within said casing, valve actuating connections extendin directly upwardly and rearwardly from sai valve through said aperture, and a thermostat operatively supported within said oven for the operation of said connections.

6. The combination with a gas stove having an oven with an apert-ured door frame and a stringer pipe proximate thereto, of a valve casing connected with said stringer pipe substantially in line with the end thereof and dis osed substantially directly in front of an below the aperture in said door frame, a tubular support connected with said casing and extending upwardly and rearwardly at an angle into said oven, a thermostat mounted upon said support within the oven, and valve actuating connections operatively associated with said thermostat and extending through said support to said casing,

7. The combination with a stove having an oven, an' oven burner and a manifold leading to said burner; of an automatically operable valve controlling the How of fuel through said manifold and comprising a casing located exteriorly of said oven and a valve body within said casing, a support connected with said casing and projecting into said oven, said support being loosely carried from said oven for movement with respect thereto, a thermostat connected with said support within said oven to move bodily in accordance with the expansion and contraction of said support, and a valve actuating member extending from said thermostat along said su port directly to said valve and substantially in axial alignment therewith.

8. The combination with a gas stove having an oven with an a ertured door frame, an oven manifold, an a stringer pipe extending across thev front of sald stove and terminating adjacent the front of said even and therebeneath; of a valve casing ap lied to the end of said stringer pipe direct y in front of the apertured portion of Said door frame, means affording communication between said caslng and said manifold, a valve within said casm controlling commumcation between sai stringer p1pe and said I manifold, a thermostat supported in an upper portion of said oven, and rectilinear actuating connections extending throu h the aperture of said frame downward ly and forwardly from said thermostat to said valve.

9. The combination with a gas stove having an oven provided with an apertured door frame, an oven manifold, and a stringer pipe extending across the front of said stove and terminating adjacent the front of said even and therebeneath; of a manually operable gas cock applied to the end of said stringer pipe, an automatic gas cock connected with said first mentioned as cock and provided with a valve controlling commumcation between said first mentioned gas cock and said manifold, a thermostat within said oven, and actuating connections between said thermostat and said valve extending jangularly downwardly and forwardly in substantially a straight line from said member through the aperture in said frame.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a valve casing and a valve therein. the casing being supported in a relatively fixed position, of a thermostat remote from said casing, a support connected with said casing and carrying said thermostat, and actuating connect-ions extending along said support between said thermostatand said valve, said support and said connections being free to expand away from said casing and from said valve, whereby the effect upon the valve of the expansion of either will tend to be counteracted by the effect upon the valve of the expansion of the other.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a valve casing and a valve therein, the casing-being supported in a relatively fixed position, of a thermostat remote from said casing, a support connected with said casing and carrying said thermostat, and actuating connections extending along said support between said thermostat and said valve, said support and said c0nnections being free to expand away from said casing and from said valve, whereby the effect upon the valve of the expansion of either will tend to be counteracted by the effect upon the valve of the expansion of the other, said support and said connections comprising material having substantially like co-etlicients of ex ansion.

12. In a device of t e character described, the combination with a relatively fixed valve casing and a valve therein, of a tubular support adjustably connected with said casing for relative axial movement and, free to expand outwardly from its point of connectio a thermostat carried by said su port, and actuating" connections for said valve comprising a rod operatively extending through said support from said thermostat in the direction of said valve, and manually operable means for effecting the adjustment of said support, said means being calibrated with reference to the effect of said thermostat upon said valve in different positions of adjustment of said support, the calibrations being determined with reference to the efi'ect of the expansion of said support.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a relatively fixed valve casing anda valve therein, of a tubular support adjustably connected with said casing for relative axial movement and free to expand outwardly from its point of connection, av thermostat carried by said support and actuating connections for said valve comprising a rodoperatively extending through said support from said thermostat in the direction of said valve, and manually operable means for effecting the adjustment of said support, said means being calibrated with reterenceto the effect of said thermo stat upon saidvalve in different positions of adjustment of said support, the calibrations being determined with reference to the effect of the expansion of said support and said support and rod being constructed of material having substantially like co-eflicients of expansion whereby said calibrations may be uniform.

14. In a device of the character described, the. combination with an oven having an aperture therein, of a tubular supporting member opening to the outside atmosphere through said aperture, a thermostat carried by said member, and a rod extending from said thermostat throughsaid tubular supportingmember, whereby to be subject to the thermal influence of gases expanding within said oven and escaping to the outside atmosphere through said member.

15. The combination with a cabinet gas range comprising a cooking top having a plurality of burners therebeneath, an oven at one side of the cooking top, a stringer pipe extending across the front of [the cooking top, a burner beneath'said oven, a manifold leading from intermediate portions of said stringer pipe to the severalburners afore said, of a valve casing applied to said stringer pipe in front-of one side of said oven and communicating with the-manifold leading to. the oven burner aforesaid, a thermostat within said oven, and an upwardly and rear wardly extending actuating connection substantially coaxial with said valve between said valve and said thermostat.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination with an oven, of a tubular support projecting through the wall thereof,

a thermostat carried by said support within the oven, a valve actuating rod extending from said thermostat through said support to the exterior of the oven, a valve casing associated with said support exteriorly of the oven, and a valve Within said casing operatively arranged to receive motion from said rod, said support being provided with an opening exteriorly of said oven affording communication from its interior to the atmosphere.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination with an oven having an aperture, of a valve casing relatively fixed exteriorly of the oven, a valve within said casing, a support connected with said casing "and having a hearing at the aperture of said ly induced differences in the length of said support.

18. In a device of the character described,

the combination with an oven having an aperture therein, of a valvecasing fixed with reference to'said oven in a position below said aperture, avalve within. said casing, a tube substantially co-axial with said valve projecting from said casing in a substantially straight line through said aperture, and a thermostat supported by said tube and diregtly connected therethrough with said va ve.

19. In a device of the character described, the combination with an oven having an aperture in its wall, of a valve casing relatively fixed exteriorly of said oven, a valve within said casing, a tube substantially in axial alignment with said valve projecting from said casing through said aperture and receiving bearing support from said oven, divergent arms on said tube, a thermostat carried by said arms, and a valve actuating member contacting centrally with said thermostat and extending therefrom outwardly through said tube.

20. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a valve casing meme her and a thermostat supporting member, of a barrel rotatably connected with one of said members and in threaded engagement with the other, a valve in said casing member, a thermostat carried by said supporting member, and valve actuating connections of substantially fixedlength with reference to said supporting member extending along said supporting member from said thermostat to said valve.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination with a relatively fixed valve casing and a proximate even provided with an aperture, of a fitting applied to said oven at said aperture, a tubular support having III."

a bearing in said fitting, a barrel in threaded connection with said support and connected with said casing, meansupon said support for'engaging said oven in a mannerto prevent said support from rotation when said barrel is rotated while permitting the axial movement of said support within said oven, a thermostat carried from said support, and valve actuating connections extending from said thermostat to said support.

22. In a device of the character described, the combination with a relativelyfixed valve casing and a [)lOXlll'ltLi'O'DVOfl provided with an aperture, of a littin applied to said oven at said aperture, a tubular support hav- H7 threaded connectron with said support and port, valve actuating connections extending from said thermostat to said support, and a stop connected with said support extcriorly of said oven and adapted to contact with said fitting whereby to limit the axial movement of said support.

23. In a device of the character described, the combination with a valve casing and a tubular support confined against rotation,

the valve casing being fixed and the support free for axial movement, of a barrel provided with opposite threads and connected therethrough respectively with said casing and said support, a thermostat carried by said support,- a valve within the casing operatively connected to receive motion from said thermostat, and means for limiting the rotative movement of the barrel to a predetermined extent.

24. In a device of the character described, the combination with a stovethavin'g an even provided at its front with a door frame having an aperture on one side adjacent the oven wall, said stove also having a stringer pipe proximate to said oven, of a valve casing member in communication with said stringer pipe and disposed in a fixed position immediately in front of the aperture in said frame, a tubular supporting member extending upwardly at an angle from said casing through the aperture of said frame to the interior of said oven, divergent arms connected with said supporting member and disposed adjacent the wall of said even whereby to secure said member against rotation, a bi-metallic thermostat connected at its ends with said arms, a valve actuating rod extending therefrom through said tubular supporting member,. a valve in said casing operatively arranged to receive motion from said rod, and a barrel rotatable with ing a bearing in said fittin a barrel in respect to one of said members and in and provided with an elongated bearing in said casing, said casing being formed to provide a bearing opening fitted closely to said pin and the small diameter of'said pin and the opening therefor in said casing being such as to provide a minimum of area through which gas may escape.

26. In a device of the character described, the combination with a valve casing and a valve'operatively mounted therein, said casing being provided with a bearing opening of minute diameter, of a valve actuating pin extending through said openin and operatively engaging said valve, sai pin having a close fit within said openingand being of relatively strong material and of as small diameter as is practicable for the operation of said valve.

27. In a device of the character described, the combination with a valve casing and a valve operatively mounted therein, of a bearing member extending almost to, said valve and provided with a bearing aperture co-axial wlth said valve and of relatively minute diameter, together with a comparatively strong metallic pin supported by said member in close proximity to said valve and fitted closely within said opening, said pin having the minimum diameter practicable for the operation of said valve.

28. In a device of the character described, the combination with a valve casing and a resiliently yieldable valve therein, a valve actuating pin provided with an extended bearing opening in said casin and closely fitted within said opening, said pin being of minute diameter, a thermostat support, a thermostat carried by said support remote from said casing, and a rod in operative contact with a movable portion of said thermostat and in operative connection with said pin whereby to transmit motion therethrou h to said valve.

29. the combination with a valve casing and a resiliently yieldable valve therein, a valve actuating pin provided with an extended bearing openin in said casing and closely fitted within sald opening, said pin being of minute diameter, a thermostat carried ,by said support remote from said casin and a rod in operative contactwith a move le portion of said thermostat and guided for end 11 a device of the character described,

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abutment with said pin in operative conned tion with said pin whereby to transmit mo: tion therethrough to said valve.

30. In a device of the character described, the combination with a valve casin including a removable bearin member aving a bearing opening of mmute diameter and having an external thread, of a. valve axially aligned with said opening and'resiliently seated within said casing, a valve actuating pin guided in sa'id bearing opening a barrel in threaded connection with, said bearing member a thermostat. support connected. with said barrel and adjustable axially therewith, a thermostat carried by said 15 sup rt, and a valve actuating member exten ing from said thermostat along said support and operatively associated with said pin.

WALTER E. GLAUS. EMIL L. CLAUS. 

